A carer has been jailed after attempting to rape a severely disabled woman at a Townsville care facility. David Jack Peter Cottam abused a position of trust he held as a carer with support service Cootharinga North Queensland when he attempted to have sex with a female client who could not walk, talk or defend herself. Cottam was sentenced in Townsville District Court yesterday after pleading guilty to one count of abuse or attempted abuse of a person with impairment of the mind as a guardian or carer. The court heard the offence took place on December 26, 2016, while Cottam was supposed to be looking after his victim. Crown Prosecutor Dane Marley said Cottam had a meeting with Cootharinga management after the incident where he admitted he had committed the act for his own sexual satisfaction. The victim suffers from cerebral palsy and a range of other conditions. Cottam’s defence barrister Anthony Collins claimed his client was “obviously suffering some kind on underlying condition” but psychologist reports presented to the court suggested there was no diagnosable issue with the 24-year-old.
